Lesson:
Engage (10 minutes):
Divide the class into small groups.
Give each group a scenario with a decision to make. This scenario should be simple and relatable to the students.
- Example: “You’re planning a weekend outing. Would you prefer to go to the beach or to a movie?”
In their groups, have students discuss the factors they would consider when making this decision.
Bring the class back together and ask each group to share the factors they considered for their scenario.
Guide the discussion toward the idea that people often think about different factors when making decisions, and decision-making structures can help organize these factors.
Ask the class:
- Why do you think having a structured approach to decision-making might be helpful?
- What are some benefits of using structure to make decisions?
Apply (55 minutes):
Direct instruction over decision making structures (20 Minutes)
Decision Making Structure slides
Activity 1- (10 Minutes)
Write about a decision you remember making where you would have benefited from a structured decision-making process.
As a class, discuss some of these decisions and why the decision making process would have been helpful.
Activity 2- (25 Minutes)
Have your students take Kent State’s Discover Your Decision-Making Style online survey.
Group your students by decision-making style to provide an opportunity to discuss their results.
Discussion Questions:
- Do you feel like these results represent your real decision-making style?
- What are your strengths and challenges as this type of decision-maker?
- How do different parts of your identity show up in your decision-making style?
Reflect (5-10 minutes):
- How is it helpful to understand your own decision-making style?
- How might it be helpful to understand others’ decision-making style?
- What types of decisions in your life do you think the steps for structuring decisions would be most useful?
